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Mother’s milk is the most natural and best choice for babies. It contains all the nutrients the baby needs. In the first 6 months, you do not even need to give water to your baby, Mother’s milk also meets the baby’s water needs.
So as soon as the babies are born, the mother holds them in her arms and starts breastfeeding – is it?
You may imagine your sweet baby as an angel and suckles and sleep with instinct. But according to research, only 15% of babies have no sleep or sucking problems. The remaining mothers, who constitute the majority, reported that their baby had problems with sucking or sleeping (mostly both).
At the beginning of the suction problems, is the baby’s inability to grasp the tip of the breast. The mother cannot produce enough milk, mastitis (fever, fatigue, pain and redness in the breast can cause symptoms such as obstruction of the milk ducts, and often followed by infection). If you are experiencing this, you should get help from a doctor or breastfeeding counsellor.
In this article, we will share the tips about milking in case you cannot breastfeed your baby.
Milking is generally carried out in three ways;
- Milking by hand
- With the manual pump
- With the electric pump
Also, milking by injector and milking by the bottle are also commonly known.
Manual milking method
This method can be used as a support for milk increase especially in the first days of breastfeeding. Milking by hand also prevents nipple cracks, or if these cracks are present, you can feed your baby with Mother’s milk until it heals. You can soften your breasts by pressing a warm, clean towel on your chest before you start expressing your milk. Similarly, entering the shower and keeping hot water in your udders will also facilitate milking.
To express milk by hand, place the small finger on the chest wall and place the index finger under the brown part of the breast, with the thumb on the breast, at the end of the brown zone. The other fingers should support the breast from the bottom. Thus, an open C-shape is formed around the nozzle. Gently press the head and index finger towards the chest wall, feeling the underlying tissue. Try to find the milk ponds within the boundaries of the brown ring. Massage the nipple by squeezing and releasing between the fingers to empty the milk. Repeat the movement regularly. You can adjust the speed, pressure and rhythm.
Approximately 80 ml of milk is obtained after 15-20 minutes of treatment. When you first start this, milk may not come immediately, but don’t give up. The amount of milk will increase as you continue milking. You should not feel pain during manual milking, if you feel the pain you are doing it wrong. Check your fingers and try again.
As the amount of milk, the baby drinks increase after a while, manual milking will not be enough. You can choose milk pumps to save time.
Pumps for milk
Milk pumps were created by mimicking the baby’s suction reflex. Technically speaking, the pumps operate by pulling the nipple and then releasing it. In this way, they draw milk from the breast.
The manually operated milk pumps are suitable for short-term milking. In addition to being small and quiet, these pumps may also require muscle strength or assistance to use these low-cost pumps.
Little’s Manual Breast Pump
Electric and battery-operated milk pumps
These pumps are more practical and faster than manual ones. Great convenience for parents. It can express enough milk in 15-20 minutes. Some electrically driven pumps have different suction levels.
You can then select the setting that suits you. Some pumps also allow the mother to move during the milking process. Thus, the mother can continue to breastfeed her baby. When choosing electric pumps, you can choose medical products.
When choosing a milk pump, we recommend that you choose the gradual, portable, convenient and quiet one. Make sure that the pump is compatible with the nozzle.
Also, the funnel part to grasp the nozzle should be soft, air-tight and should not irritate. You may prefer single-head pumps instead of double-head ones, since being double-headed may reduce traction.
Kiddale 3 in 1 Electric Breast Feeding Pump
Properly Storing the Milk Obtained
The rules of milk storage are as important as obtaining Mother’s milk.
- 3 hours at room temperature (25 degrees Celsius)
- 3 days on the shelf of the refrigerator
- Can store in the freezer for 3 months.
Keep the milk in the appropriate storage bags, write the date, time and how many ml. If you are keeping it in the freezer then make sure to seal it properly.
It is best to take the milk from the freezer into the refrigerator first. After spending 24 hours there, bring it to the appropriate temperature (by placing it in a bowl of hot water). Never leave the milk in boiling water.
Let’s say you put the milk in the cupboard and after two hours you milked it again. Never mix them, keep them separately.
The volume of frozen milk expands, so do not fill the bag to the brim. Frozen milk tastes a little bit different but if the baby accepts it then it’s no problem.
The colour of the milk may also vary depending on what you eat (for example, it may be slightly pink, yellowish or brown).
Conclusion
Looking at your baby’s photo during milking, hearing your baby sound or smell to remind you of your baby can accelerate the flow of milk. If possible, breastfeeding on the one hand while taking milk from the other breast to store makes it very easy.
And finally, it would be a big mistake to calculate the amount of milk obtained as far as you milk. When your baby suckles, it always produces more milk than you milk.
Your baby always stimulates the breast better, ultimately, he was born knowing this job. Let your instincts manage the process. You can keep your baby on your lap and enjoy the smell.
You can visit Amazon India for milk pumps that you can purchase to facilitate the intensive process after pregnancy.